National volunteering charity to support unemployed young people in Newham

National volunteering charity TimeBank is offering 16-25 year olds in Newham who are not in employment, education or training the chance to gain entry level qualifications and experience by setting up and running a community project in the borough.

The charity has extended its Engage youth project to Newham after a successful pilot when young people delivered some exciting projects, from children’s sports activities to a clothes-swap, that inspired them to return to education or start their own small businesses.

Engage works by recruiting volunteer mentors to encourage young people to take a fresh look at their futures and develop practical skills. It is funded by the Big Lottery Fund and the Progress Foundation.

Joe Delooze, the project co-ordinator for Engage at TimeBank, says: “September is when many young people take stock of their futures. For those who are still unsure of their next steps or how to move forward into an industry they are interested in, this is a fantastic opportunity to gain practical skills and experience as well as get advice and support from a volunteer mentor.”

The project is open to young people living in Newham aged 16-25, who are not in employment, education or training. TimeBank would also like to hear from potential volunteer mentors – especially young men – who would like to take part in the project to support local young people. If you’d like to know more take a look at www.timebank.org.uk/engage or phone Joe on 0203 111 0727.

It recruits and trains volunteers to deliver mentoring projects to tackle complex social problems and also works with businesses to engage their staff in volunteering

TimeBank believes that great volunteering can transform the lives of both volunteers and beneficiaries by building stronger, happier and more inclusive communities. For more information take a look at www.timebank.org.uk